Female Novel
Chapter 185 A Marriage Arrangement (Part Two)
'You are the one who is apprehended!' Harper exclaimed to herself deep in her mind. Harper severelywished to retort. However, she kept herself from saying anything, fully aware that they were in a publicsetting. Katrina seemed to be quite good at tearing the scab right off someone else' sore. She couldeven pretend that she didn't notice the embarrassment on everyone's faces, especially on Harper's, asshe continued with her speech.
"Your Majesty, Harper is reluctant to get married, because her last engagement had been broken off.However, it is worth noting that she is the only daughter of Prime Minister Charles right now. I don'twant to see her grow old and lead her life all by herself. Please arrange a good marriage and find areliable man for her." Katrina still pretended to beg the emperor for help as though she was very upsetand concerned about Harper's situation. The people present were convinced by her words. Theycouldn't help but feel how kind of an aunt she was to Harper.
While she continued to listen to Katrina, Harper only felt that she was being treated like a mere itembeing put on sale. It felt like she was dependent upon who would make a good offer after she wascarefully observed and evaluated. In short, she felt dehumanized. Katrina, who seemingly cared aboutHarper so much in front of others, was in fact, only adding insult to her injury. It seemed likeembarrassing and humiliating Harper in front of everyone was the sole thing that could bring happinessin her life.
"Your Majesty, I am unwilling to marry not because my last engagement was broken off. In fact, I amnot devastated about that either. Instead, I feel so lucky that Prince Kevin's son broke off theengagement to me. As for marriage, in general, I will certainly obey my parents' decisions. I reallyappreciate that Her Highness cares so much about my marriage. I give my gratitude towards this." Assoon as Harper finished her words, she cast a glance at Katrina and bowed to her. Then, sheindifferently sat back to her chair.
Katrina felt a little disgraced. Just now, Harper had said that she would follow her parents' arrangementfor her marriage. In fact, she was reminding Katrina that she did not have the right to arrange hermarriage. But if both Charles and Nicole reached an agreement about her marriage, Harper would nothave a problem with this. Otherwise, if they had a problem with it, Harper wouldn't have a choice but tobe on their side.
"Your Majesty, I've always shown great concern about my daughter's marriage. I won't let her suffer anygrievance anymore." Nicole completely disagreed with Katrina's idea and finally made her voice heard.She couldn't believe that Katrina even wanted to arrange a marriage for Harper as she pleased.
"Nicole, I only meant that His Majesty could arrange a good marriage for Harper. I'm only looking outfor your best interests. Especially, now that you're pregnant, you should not be stressed or bothered toomuch about this matter."
"Your Highness, thank you for your concern. You are really thoughtful and considerate. However, Ireassure you that even if I am pregnant, I haven't forgotten about my duty to care about my owndaughter's marriage." Nicole kept retorting against Katrina with inexplicable hostility towards her.Harper had been treating her with utmost sincerity and loyalty, so Nicole would certainly not allowanyone else to arbitrarily arrange a marriage for Harper.
"Aright, stop arguing." After interrupting their conversation, the emperor turned to look at Harper, wholooked fairly attractive and talented to him. Although she had a bad temper, as observed from herwords alone, at least she looked gentle and amiable. But, it was a pity that her engagement had beenceased.
Then, the emperor looked around to see which clans still had unmarried sons. But all the people in thegreat hall whose sons were still unmarried lowered their heads in succession. They were afraid thattheir son would be chosen to marry Harper. From their perspective, Harper was not the kind of woman
who would be obedient and submissive to her husband. They thought that if their son married her, itwould only bring chaos to their clan.
"Your Majesty."novelbin
"Your Majesty."
Carlson and Zack stated while they stood up together.
"Carlson, Zack, what's the matter?" the emperor unhappily asked, being interrupted from his thoughts.
"Your Majesty, may I—"
"Your Majesty!" Allen suddenly chipped in to interrupt his son. "My son is trying to ask if he could makesome recommendations to you."
"Father!" Frustrated at what his father had said, Carlson explained, "Your Majesty, that is not what Iwant to say at all."
"Sit down!" Allen didn't care about what Carlson was thinking. Whatever it was, he couldn't let Harpermarry his son and become a part of his clan. Moreover, he didn't want his son to marry such a cunningand complex woman. He also thought that the emperor must have other intentions for arranging thismarriage.
Zack smiled as if he had foreseen it. But before he spoke out to reveal his proposal, the emperor said,"I think my brother Matthew is a good man. What do you think, Harper?"
Harper turned stiffly and looked at the emperor. After taking a look at Matthew, she was frightened somuch that she immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I am too humble to even think aboutmarrying His Highness."
"I think the two of you would make a good match." The emperor looked at Matthew who had animpassive face and then shifted his gaze to Harper, who was trembling out of fear. She was the onlywoman in the world that Matthew seemed to be interested in. He didn't want to let go of thisopportunity.
"What do you think, Charles?" It was obvious then that the emperor was determined to facilitate themarriage between Harper and Matthew. Even for a second, Charles didn't dare to oppose him.
"Your Majesty, that's a wise choice!" Charles answered.
Zack was quite surprised. He looked at Matthew, hoping that the man could refuse the marriage. If theemperor really proclaimed the marriage, Harper's life would be ruined!
"Zack, sit down!" Franklin held Zack's elbow and asked him to sit down. Now that the emperor hadproposed the marriage, he would not allow anyone to raise an objection against him. Even Harper orMatthew was not an exception.
Kneeling down on the floor, Harper dared not to look up. This was just what Katrina had intended to do.She wanted Harper to marry Matthew. But why did the emperor wanted her to marry Matthew? Harperonly had this one question in her mind. As far as she knew, Matthew possessed much military power,while Charles served as the Prime Minister. Therefore, if the two clans would join hands with eachother, the consequences would be unimaginable. This was just the reason why Harper was questioningthe emperor's marriage arrangement. Matthew held great military power.
Harper immediately understood the key reason why Katrina had been so eager to facilitate thismarriage arrangement. Matthew's mansion was guarded so strictly that it was extremely difficult foranyone else to sneak inside without being detected. Harper had actually visited the mansion a fewtimes. As far as she remembered, the mansion was well guarded that no one could easily enter.However, it would be much easier for anyone with even a bit of evil intent against the mansion to gain
access by getting any of their family members married into the clan. With this, it dawned on Harper thatat this banquet, she was not the sole target, it turned out that Matthew was the target as well.
With this thought in mind, Harper felt her hands and feet rather freezing due to fear. To the best of herknowledge, Matthew couldn't be easily fooled. Hence, she would immediately be put to death afterstepping into his mansion at the night of their wedding if he had any doubts that she had any ulteriormotive.